The school board met again on Monday, March 18. The regular meeting of the West Liberty Community School District Board of Education was held as usual in the Boardroom on Elm Street.
The agenda included the On-Track Report, a budget discussion, and the Guiding Principles Resolution.
All five board members were present, including Director Vargas who attended online, as well as Superintendent Shaun Kruger, Secretary Abby Ortiz, Dawn Kruse, Brenda Arthur-Miller, Stephanie Ramsey and Sara Schnepper.
Brenda Arthur-Miller, high school principal, delivered the On-Track Report. This report is a general assessment of whether West Liberty High School students are likely to graduate on time.
Since 2020, there has been a yearly increase in the numbers of students who will graduate on time. Arthur-Miller shared data that expresses a strong correlation between attendance and grades.
24 percent of students have had zero absences or tardies, and their average GPA is 3.48, as opposed to the 33 percent who had five or more absences, whose average GPA is only 2.69.
Arthur-Miller uses this data as a tool for “talking to them about the importance of being here, the importance of being on time, and this is the result of that.”
During the first trimester, 97 percent of students were passing all their classes. That number increased to 98 percent during the second trimester.
Across the entire high school, the 372 students are earning an average GPA of 3.2, which is pretty impressive.
First period is still an area where growth should occur, and students have a hard time being on time for school at 8:15. Arthur-Miller says this is pretty common among American high schools.
Arthur-Miller then talked about Teacher Education for Equity through Partnerships, or TEEP.
“The University of Iowa is partnering with us and some other schools in this TEEP grant,” Arthur-Miller said. “It’s a federal grant for five years, and the idea behind it is really to build our own future workforce.”
One part is to create a club for potential future educators in our schools. The high school is currently looking at beginning that club.
There may be opportunities to spend time in an elementary classroom learning from a real teacher. The students would also have a chance to visit the University and sit in on an education class.
Concurrent Enrollment Offerings were also reviewed. Stephanie Ramsey, one of the high school counselors, and Sara Schnepper, shared how they advise students to plan for their futures through dual enrollment with MCC, college application assistance and connecting students with scholarships.
Students also have several ways to earn college credit through their high school classes.
The board discussed the new position of Director of Teaching and Learning. Superintendent Kruger explained:
“Melody Russell is an Instructional Coach at the middle school,” Kruger began, “she’s retiring.”
Kruger then examined Russell’s many duties and the many programs she leads and resources she lines up. The district has decided to enhance that role, since Russell is already performing most of the usual duties of a Director of Teaching and Learning.
Not to mention that there would be no point trying to replace the instructional coach, as Russell is clearly irreplaceable.
Business manager Abby Ortiz presented the FY 2025 budget discussion. The percentage of Supplemental State Aid is unknown, but Ortiz used 3 percent as her baseline and also ran the numbers for 2.5 percent.
When the SSA is known, adjustments will be made. Public hearings are scheduled for April 1 and April 15.
Director Ed Moreno talked about the WLCSD Board Guiding Principles Resolution.
“I’d like to propose that the WLCSD board look at this resolution,” Moreno said. He then looked at the WLCSD Mission Statement and the Vision Statement before adding a new declaration.
“I’d like to assert that we acknowledge and promote the positive contributions and value of our uniquely diverse community, and that we pledge to continue to empower our students and their families through our policies and practices, along with the West Liberty community. And our commitment is to better communicate with our state legislators to understand and recognize the value of our school district in their deliberation for the State of Iowa through sharing a positive and accurate narrative,” Moreno read.
The board intends to share this statement with the Communication Committee to help get the attention of Iowa’s political leaders.
The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be held on Monday, April 1 at 6 p.m. in the Boardroom.